Modifying a Sauder Home Entertainment Center

So...about 8 years ago I bought a rather large (for me) entertainment center - one of those ready-to-assemble deals. It has a glass-covered cabinet on one side and a multi-drawer covered cabinet for VCR tapes on the other. In the middle sits the TV with a 2 drawer cabinet underneath. I have my front right and left and center speakers sitting on top of the center. It looked great when I had my 32" Zenith, cable-box, receiver & VCR in it, and it looked great when I replaced the Zenith with a Toshiba 27" HDTV and the VCR with a DVD player. Now I want to upgrade to a 42" or larger HDTV and there's no way that'll fit. Has anyone tried installing a short plank or wooden board onto the existing stand that would extend out enough to hold a large TV? Am I dreaming, or can it be done?

So...about 8 years ago I bought a rather large (for me) entertainment center - one of those ready-to-assemble deals. It has a glass-covered cabinet on one side and a multi-drawer covered cabinet for VCR tapes on the other. In the middle sits the TV with a 2 drawer cabinet underneath. I have my front right and left and center speakers sitting on top of the center. It looked great when I had my 32" Zenith, cable-box, receiver & VCR in it, and it looked great when I replaced the Zenith with a Toshiba 27" HDTV and the VCR with a DVD player. Now I want to upgrade to a 42" or larger HDTV and there's no way that'll fit. Has anyone tried installing a short plank or wooden board onto the existing stand that would extend out enough to hold a large TV? Am I dreaming, or can it be done?

I'm not entirely sure what you are saying here, but I'll give it a shot. It sounds like you are saying that you have enough vertical and horizontal space, but the new TV is too deep.
Actually... Can you post a pic of your entertainment center?

Remember that those things are made of particle board and if you are planning to attach a board to the front, the weight of the TV will possible break the particle board material and you would be in for a loud crash not to mention damage to the TV. It might be a better idea to just put a self supporting/standing shelf in front of the entertainment system for the TV.

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There's no room horizontally, vertically or depth-wise for a TV larger than 32" inside the opening. I greatly appreciate the warning about the particle board - it's not something I considered, and the image of a brand new plasma face down and in pieces on the floor is enough to make me weep. I'm convinced now that I'll need to sell or donate the entertainment center and spend some money on a replacement. Thanks, guys!

Hey guys. I work for an AV furniture company and we get asked about modifying furniture all the time. Sometimes it just isn't possible because the existing furniture is not strong enough as others have mentioned. However, more often than not, it can be done. My boss wrote an article on-line talking about this and posted some before and after photographs. Maybe it will help some of you? Check it out if you'd like:

Not likely to be of much help to the OP,
since his problem occurred almost 4 years ago.

I doubt he's been waiting for an answer all this time.

You think he is the ONLY one who has ever wanted to modify an entertainment center? I shared the information as these threads tend to stick on the web and the information and before/after photos may be able to help someone in the future. Jeez, Scott, just trying to help out.